Happy Talk
By Norman Schreiber
Congratulations! You’re about to take your company global. In a few
weeks you’ll cross the briny to meet prospects and possible strategic
partners. But whoops! The only word you know in their language is “duh.”
Although English now is the international business language, being
understood is just a start. You’ll score points if you show some effort
to speak your customer’s language. You can learn foreign language basics
in a couple of weeks. It probably won’t be pretty and it won’t stay with
you very long unless you keep using it but it will help you navigate
during your imminent journey.
Basic tools, according to Dr. Bernebe Feria, Director of Curriculum and Developments Worldwide for Berlitz International are a reasonable amount of intelligence; a sense of pattern and open-mindedness. The basic learning elements are simple: Listen to a speaker say words, phrases and sentences; repeat those words, phrases and sentences. Nobody likes to use the “M-word” but memorization is what happens.
Finding the Right Course and Teacher
Native speakers insure that you hear the mother tongue the way mama
really speaks it and just about all language academies brag about the
native speakers on their faculty. But that’s not enough, says Carolyn
Fidelman (Editor-in-Chief of the on-line Agora Language Marketplace and
Professor of French at Northeastern University). Doers are not
necessarily teachers. You’re better off with someone trained to educate.
For that reason, suggests Fidelman, see to it that your instructor is a
moonlighting high school or college language teacher.
An immersion course helps
. This linguistic boot camp throws you into the language waters for about six hours a day, five days a week for one to three weeks. You learn by speaking and doing. (Price averages between $3,000 and $5,000). Berlitz International (400 Alexander Park, Princeton NJ 08540; 800-528-8908) offers such courses in its schools around the country. So do other academies such as The Boston Language Institute, 636 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02215 (617 262-3500).
You can compound an immersion course’s power by going overseas a
little earlier. Take that course in the country where you are doing
business. Actually being there gives you more chances to soak up the
lingo and reinforce what you are learning. Contact
National Registration
Center for Study Abroad (414 278-0631) for a list of respected foreign
based immersion courses. The NRCSA also can register you for one of
these classes.
Hire a private instructor when your workaholic life prevents regularly
scheduled appointments on the same time and day. Other private
instructor advantages are that the lessons can be customized and
you get so much attention.
Fidelman feels semi-private instruction – meeting the instructor with two or three other students – actually can be more effective. Lessons are still pretty customized. Schedules can still be flexible and the student interplay and bonding helps.
f you’re going to be here for another three to six months, you can take a course. The choices of venue include private tutors, dedicated academies such as Berlitz and BIL; and assorted adult ed centers. Make sure the class emphasizes conversation over grammar and business communication over tourist needs. The larger the class the less likely your specific needs and opportunities for participation can be addressed. Berlitz limits its class size to 10.
Using Technology
If you have no time for classes or prefer self-instruction, you can
turn to recordings -- audiotape cassettes or CD-ROMs.
Audiotape offers hearing (the voice on the tape) and speaking (blank
intervals so that you can repeat what you just heard). And it’s highly
portable so you can cram while you jog or drive or work out. A good
source for audiotape language courses is Audio Forum, 96 Broad St.,
Guilford CT 06437 (800-243-1234) The company offers 96 languages and the
average program consists of 15 hours of taped instruction and calls for
60-70 hours of exercise.
CD-ROMs provide heightened interactivity, ease in reviewing past
lessons and vocabulary plus high tech cartoony bells and whistles.
Fairfield Language Technologies’ (FLT) Rosetta Stone series brings an
immersion approach to the computer. Using pictures, photos, text and
phrases, it guides learners to meaning through context and gives instant
feedback. It also “learns” where the student has difficulties and
re-exercises
Helping Yourself Learn
Anticipate your vocabulary needs, advises Professor Fidelman.
“Visualize your trip.” Think about everything from getting off the plane
to getting through your meetings. From this exercise, Fidelman says, you
can develop a list of “specific words or phrases you might
need in those situations.” Give that list to your instructor.
When using audiotapes or CD-ROMs, do your studying in 20-minute
intervals. Going longer than that, according to Fidelman, usually
reduces your ability to retain information.
Repeat each new word or phrase seven to times to maximize retention.
Rote may rule when it comes to learning numbers, days, months but you
can help the process by drilling in a different way. Dr. Jonathan Z.
Ludwig of Indiana University has his students “recite, for
example, the even numbers, the odd numbers, count backwards, by threes,
etc.”
Learn the phrases for “"yes, I need ...; yes, I need to do ...; no, I
don't need .../I already have ...; no, I don't need to .../I already did
..." When combining these with your personal vocabulary, says Ludwig,
you can effectively respond in many different situations..
When you learn vocabulary, associate an action while listening to the
word or phrase. For example, when you hear the foreign version of “what
time is it?” look at your watch.
Giving Yourself Extras
Practice with real-life speakers at every opportunity – restaurants, cab rides, shopping, etc. This tip applies to people who take classes as well as those who use tapes and CD-ROMs.
Muriel Jerome-O’Keeffe of JTG (a company that specializes in integrating technology into curricula) says go to a language club meeting. The purpose of such meetings (often luncheons) is to talk, listen, learn and have a great time. You can locate them through universities, libraries, ethnic benevolent associations, embassies or even your language instructor.
Use the Web.
They don’t call it “worldwide” for nothing and surf your way through foreign language sites. Many sites cater to the language learner. The Agora Language Marketplace (http://agoralang.com ) is an excellent place to start.
Pack These
Get a pocket dictionary. To get the right one, Professor Fidelman suggests you check for computer terms to see how current it is and see if has enough of the professional vocabulary you need.
Bring your tapes and keep on practicing. Capisce?